Tea With Friends

 I always look forward to attending the World Tea Expo. In

addition to seeing and making tea friends from around

the world, it is a great opportunity to stay at the forefront

of the industry’s latest trends, increase knowledge and

great networking opportunities. 

 

This year’s World Tea Expo was filled with so many

memorable experiences.  I had the opportunity of

tasting three new wine flavored teas, all alcohol free.

 In fact, these teas are the first of their kind and were

unveiled to us during a special tea tasting at the tea expo.

I am looking forward to serving these new teas to our guests!

 

The “Tea Blending” seminar I attended was so much fun.

We actually hand blended three different teas, Chai,

 English Breakfast, and Passionfruit. I can’t wait to share

them with you.  This class has inspired me to learn more

about tea blending.  I already have some special recipes in mind!

 

I had the pleasure of visiting with Susan Rios, the talented artist

whose artwork is featured in many of Emilie Barnes tea books

and also painted the beautiful art canvas oil painting of

Camellia Rose Tea Room. I hope you have stopped in our shop to

see it.  She will be publishing a new tea book next year

through Harvest House and Camellia Rose will be

featured in it. She has agreed to visit us next April for

a book signing and painting class.  I can hardly wait!

 

This year the expo introduced the “Attendee Appreciation

Program” and I was fortunate to qualify because I have attended

five consecutive conferences.  One of the perks of this program

was a private luncheon with the guest speaker being

Mr. John Harney, founder of Harney Teas.  Mr. Harney shared

some of his experiences over the years since beginning his

business blending teas in the basement of his home many years ago.

 

It is always a pleasure to listen to James Norwood Pratt share his

tea knowledge as he takes us around the world tasting different rare teas. 

 

I found lots of new tea books and hope they will be delivered soon

to our gift shop so you can see them first hand.

  

I am so looking forward to sharing all the interesting things I learned

at this year’s expo with you when you visit Camellia Rose. 

Cheers,

Ellen 

 

 

We had the honor of hosting the 2009 Strawberry Queen,

Lauren Der, and her court for a special tea time!  Our

guests had so much fun taking pictures and conversing with

these young ladies.  We presented Lauren with the new strawberry

tea named in her honor, “Lauren’s Berry Basket” during this event.

Plant City girls are “Drop Red Gorgeous!”